Radical times in Spain

Radical Times

We wanted to experience Spain. Like, really experience Spain, in all of its mysterious, lispy glory. So with the help of longtime Quiksilver skater and Spanish local Javier Mendizabal, we planned a trip. Then we rallied a crew - Snowboarders: Bryan Fox, Austen Sweetin and Mat Crepel, Surfers: Mikey February & Natxo Gonzalez, and Skater: Zack Miller. then we went.

From post-surf pintxos in San Sebastian to sleepless nights spent in the streets of Barcelona, everything was better than we could have imagined.

It was cultural, chaotic and everything in between. And it was all motivated by a passion for boardriding. We spent two weeks there and you can join us on our journey in the clip below. Then dig through our Boardrider’s Guide to trace some of our steps and start planning your own Radical Time in Spain.

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We wanted to experience Spain. Like, really experience Spain, in all of its mysterious, lispy glory. So with the help of longtime Quiksilver skater and Spanish local Javier Mendizabal,

We planned a trip. Then we rallied a crew - Snowboarders: Bryan Fox, Austen Sweetin and Mat Crepel, Surfers: Mikey February & Natxo Gonzalez, and Skater: Zack Miller. then we went.

From post-surf pintxos in San Sebastian to sleepless nights spent in the streets of Barcelona, everything was better than we could have imagined.

It was cultural, chaotic and everything in between. And it was all motivated by a passion for boardriding. We spent two weeks there and you can join us on our journey in the clip above. Below, dig through our Boardrider’s Guide to trace some of our steps and start planning your own Radical Time in Spain.

Aboardrider'sguideto spain

Ever felt an itch to push around that next corner? Or the childlike wonder that urges you to climb a hill, just to see what life looks like on the other side? Or an undeniable desire to explore every crevice of the globe? Well then, you came to the right place.

Boardriding gives us a reason to satisfy that desire. It gives us somewhere to go and something to do when we arrive. And, best of all, it opens up doors around the world. Nothing breaks down barriers quite like boardriding. That’s what Radical Times is about. We want to inspire you to chase fun around the globe and we want to empower you with the information you need to do it. So, here it is: your Boardrider’s Guide to Spain.

Now it’s up to you to use it.

Hola

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF SPAIN?

Is it tapas? Bull fighting? A Flamenco dancer moving in a way that bursts out of the space-time continuum and pierces straight through the fibers of your heart?

Good. Spain is all of those things.

But it’s also powder, pointbreaks and a plethora of concrete that simply needs to be skated. In other words, there’s a lot going on here. Which means there are a lot of reasons to check it all out. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Bythenumbers

11407

Feet of the highest peak in Iberian Peninsula Spain. It’s called Mulhacen.

270

Miles of Pyrenees mountains. Climb em. Ride em. Cherish em.

3.50

Amount, in Euro, for the average price of a beer in Barcelona

100's

Number of fiestas throughout Spain per year. If you look, you’ll find one every weekend.

18

Amount, in Euro, for an average dinner. Free bread, though.

280.000

Winemakers in Spain. Bottom’s up.

2-5PM

Siesta time. No. Just kidding

3084

Miles of coastline. Explore it.

Randomfacts

The Spanish donate organs at a higher rate than any other nation in the world. It’s a very kind country. And a great place to lose a liver.

La Tomatina is a festival held every summer in Buñol, Spain. It brings thousands of people together...all so that they can throw tomatoes at one another. It’s been around since the 1940s, though nobody is totally sure how it originated.

Spain has the second largest number of bars per inhabitant out of any country in the world. Bar hopping can be quite literal here.

The Spanish were said to have invented the stapler. That was back in the 1800s. These days, though, you might still encounter unbinded sheets of paper.

If you get your car towed in Spain (you might), the authorities literally leave a note on the street for you. At least they’re nice about being dicks.

The Spanish typically eat dinner at 9 or 10 PM. Hanger may or may not exist here.

Whenyou'llgo

FOR SIMPLICITY’S SAKE, LET’S BREAK IT DOWN INTO TWO SEASONS.

SUMMER You dig warm water, topless beaches and sunsets at 10 PM? Well then, you’ll love summer in Spain. But it doesn’t come without sacrifice in terms of boardriding - snowboarding is completely out the window this time of year (duh) and the waves are much less consistent. We did, however, mention that the beaches are topless though right?

WINTER Is having to find someone to surf with your favorite type of problem? Perfect. Winter’s all about thick wetsuits (4 mil, booties, maybe a hood) and even thicker waves. Swell is relentlessly consistent and it often gets XXL. Weather could be sunny, or it could rain for weeks on end - which also means snow for weeks on end. By the way, if snow is your main focus, then February is your safest bet. Suffice to say, wintertime is the go if you’re serious about boardriding.

Whatyou'lleat

The Spanish love their cuisine. And when people love their cuisine, they often love sharing their cuisine. The fish is fresh. The meat served incredibly rare. The food is hearty, flavorful, and rarely spicy. From paellas to pasteles, there’s a dish in Spain that almost everyone can become addicted to. Although things might get a little tricky for those trying to avoid meat or gluten once you get outside the major cities.

THE SHELTER SURF BAR, ZARAUTZ Owned by our friend Aritz Aranburu, The Shelter overlooks the main beachbreak in town and is walking (or pushing) distance to the skatepark. All meals are served with complimentary kindness.

CUINES SANTA CATERINA, BARCELONA Located just next to one of the town’s bustling markets, this joint lives up to the hype. We would recommend a dish, but they’re all too good to single one out. Go ahead, try to prove us wrong.

A WINERY OR CIDRERIE, ANYWHERE The Spanish are huge on the centuries-old tradition of fermenting fruits into fine beverages. And after all these years, they’ve learned that a good buzz is best paired with great food. The whole nation is sprinkled with establishments that have mastered the craft of both.

Pintxos, San Sebastian

Whereyou'llstay

How much you got, pal? If you’re looking to do a trip on the cheap, everywhere you’ll go has reasonably inexpensive hostels. Or, if you’ve got money and you ain’t afraid to spend it, there are plenty of places that’ll enable you to do just that - from chic hotels in guts of a city to unique resorts tucked into the countryside. And yes, Airbnb exists here. You’ll find options to fit your finances all over the land.

EL FARO DEL CAP DES CREUS This here is Salvador Dali country. And in Dali country, you’ll find the surreal landscapes that inspired the artist’s wild visions. You’ll also find this hotel right next to a lighthouse with a mind-bending view and plenty of hikes nearby. Paintbrush not included.

REFUGI SABOREDO IN BAQUEIRA Want to wake up to the dead silence of the Spanish morning in a small abode covered in pristine white snow? You certainly do. We should probably note that you either have to take helicopter in, or huff through a half-day hike. Those memories you’ll leave with, though.

Cap de creus

El faro del cap des creus

Whatyou'lldo

(When you're not boardriding)

Wanna know what’s beautiful about Spain? Everything. But a more specific side of the beauty is the seamless fusion of the old and the new. Ancient streets might be full of trendy businesses, as centuries collide in perfect harmony. It’s charming, really.

CAMINO DE SANTIAGOTo some, it’s a 500-mile religious pilgrimage ending at the burial site of Jesus’ brother. To others, it’s just a quick afternoon walk on a section of one of the world’s most famous long distance trails. Take it as you please.

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, BILBAO If the outside sparks your interest, then the inside will blow your mind. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Guggenheim is one of the best contemporary art museums in the world. Go curious. Leave inspired.

BARCELONA IN GENERAL You know how some cities have a way of sucking you in like a vortex? That’s Barcelona. There’s so much to do here, so much to see. Admire the unique buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi. Party at the Betty Ford Clinic. Eat great food. Skate through the streets. Maybe even get a few waves, if the Mediterranean is in the mood. If Barca isn’t on your bucket list, you might need to re-evaluate.

Guggenheim, Bilbao

Guggenheim, Bilbao

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Oma forest

Oma forest - Basque Country

Algorta. Basque Country

Whereyou'llsurf

We’ll say it straight up: the coastline is stacked with waves. Like, really stacked. For miles and miles, featuring twists and turns, all with exposure to the Atlantic and Mediterranean. From world- class waves like Mundaka to rugged land open to exploration. There are so many options - we recommend you see move around instead of just sticking to one zone.

MUNDAKA You’ve seen it. You’ve heard of it. You’ve daydreamed about it. Mundaka is one of the best waves in the world. It needs a proper swell to break and when it does, it’s always crowded with a crew of talented locals with an intimate understanding of the wave. They’re fun to watch. And even funner to sneak a wave off of.

BAKIO The beachbreak in Bakio is a consistent guarantee. But, also consider the amount of potential around here. We don’t want to give anything away, so we’ll just gently suggest you do some additional research and get to exploring. Wannasurf.com is a great resource for that.

Basque Country

Natxo Gonzalez

Mathieu Crepel

Bryan Fox

Mikey February

Mikey February

Bryan Fox

Yago Dominguez

Mundaka

Austen Sweetin.

Zach Miller.

Natxo Gonzalez

Whereyou'llskate

Spain has a ton of skateparks - you’ll find one in almost every decent-sized city. If you’re into street, just do a little research and stay creative. Even pushing through the downtown areas of Spain will make bringing your skate worthwhile - there’s no better way to get from Point A to Point D.

MACBA Located just outside the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, this is one of the most famous skate spots in the world. MACBA is for real, and you’ll quickly realize that when you roll up and see the crew skating it. If you’re down, give it a run. If not, just chill for an afternoon and watch.

LA KANTERA Remember when we talked about Spain’s seamless fusion of old and new? Well how about a skatepark built within the decaying walls of ancient castle? Yeah, that’s La Kantera. It was the first skatepark in the Basque country and one of the first few in all of Europe.

SOPELANA Also in the Basque Country, Sopelana skatepark was finished in 2016 and may or may not have been described as ‘’the best skatepark in the world’’ by our boy Zach Miller. You have to hike into it. It overlooks the ocean. And if it doesn’t put a smile on your face, then something ain’t right

Sopelana

Zach Miller.

Javier Mendizabal

Zach Miller.

La kantera

Zach Miller

Yago Dominguez

Javier Mendizabal

Barcelona

Austen Sweetin

Whereyou'llsnowboard

With 270 miles of Pyrenees peaks to choose from, you’ve got quite a few options. But keep in mind that snowboarding in Spain is the real deal - literally. By that, we mean not many of the 30 resorts in Spain have great artificial snowmaking systems. And the snow reports aren’t quite as accessible as they are in, say, Canada. However, if you play your cards right, you’re going to score. Whether it’s in the backcountry (see Valle de Aran) or at a resort, there’s something for everyone.

BAQUEIRA BERET We’re only featuring one spot here. Why? Because we’re confident that Baqueira Beret is the best place to ride in Spain. There are six main peaks. Low-ish price heli- boarding options. A resort that was once voted the world’s best. A town with a cool vibe. What more do you need?

Baqueira

Austen Sweetin, Zach Miller, Mat Crepel

Bryan Fox, Mat Crepel, Austen Sweetin

Austen Sweetin, Bryan Fox

Bryan Fox, Mat Crepel, Austen Sweetin

Austen Sweetin

Bryan Fox

Austen Sweetin, Mat Crepel, Bryan Fox

Austen Sweetin

Map Crepel

Bryan Fox

Austen Sweetin

Mat Crepel, Zach Miller

Mikey February

WhatYou’lllearn

That it’s so easy to fall in love with Spain. That you never want to leave. That your life can be more simple. That there are a lot of places you didn’t even know existed, and that there’s a lot more you need to see.